Justice -- Early works to 1800; Political science -- Early works to 1800; Utopias -- Early works to 1800
[Sidenote: The pantomimic artist is to receive great honours, but he is to
be sent out of the country.]
*398A* And therefore when any one of these pantomimic gentlemen, who are
so clever that they can imitate anything, comes to us, and makes a
proposal to exhibit himself and his poetry, we will fall down and worship
him as a sweet and holy and wonderful being; but we must also inform him
that in our State such as he are not permitted to exist; the law will not
allow them. And so when we have anointed him with myrrh, and set a garland
of wool upon his head, we shall send him away to another city. For we mean
to employ for *398B* our souls' health the rougher and severer poet or
story-teller, who will imitate the style of the virtuous only, and will
follow those models which we prescribed at first when we began the
education of our soldiers.
We certainly will, he said, if we have the power.
Then now, my friend, I said, that part of music or literary education
which relates to the story or myth may be considered to be finished; for
the matter and manner have both been discussed.
I think so too, he said.
*398C* Next in order will follow melody and song.
That is obvious.
Every one can see already what we ought to say about them, if we are to be
consistent with ourselves.
[Sidenote: Socrates, Glaucon.]
I fear, said Glaucon, laughing, that the word 'every one' hardly includes
me, for I cannot at the moment say what they should be; though I may
guess.
At any rate you can tell that a song or ode has three *398D* parts--the
words, the melody, and the rhythm; that degree of knowledge I may
presuppose?
Yes, he said; so much as that you may.
And as for the words, there will surely be no difference between words
which are and which are not set to music; {84} both will conform to the
same laws, and these have been already determined by us?
Yes.
[Sidenote: Melody and rhythm.]
And the melody and rhythm will depend upon the words?
Certainly.
We were saying, when we spoke of the subject-matter, that we had no need
of lamentation and strains of sorrow?
True.
*398E* And which are the harmonies expressive of sorrow? You are musical,
and can tell me.
The harmonies which you mean are the mixed or tenor Lydian, and the
full-toned or bass Lydian, and such like.
These then, I said, must be banished; even to women who have a character
to maintain they are of no use, and much less to men.
Certainly.
In the next place, drunkenness and softness and indolence are utterly
unbecoming the character of our guardians.
Utterly unbecoming.
[Sidenote: The relaxed melodies or harmonies are the Ionian and the
Lydian. These are to be banished.]
And which are the soft or drinking harmonies?
*399A* The Ionian, he replied, and the Lydian; they are termed 'relaxed.'
Well, and are these of any military use?
Quite the reverse, he replied; and if so the Dorian and the Phrygian are
the only ones which you have left.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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